Holi quiz: the festival of colours
Get ready to splash some colour. How well do you know Holi?
10 multiple-choice questions, with the answer explained after each one.
Answer each question, see why, and beat your best score.
All 10 questions and answers
Want to check an answer or run the quiz out loud? Every question is here, with the answer hidden until you open it.
- Holi is known as the festival of…
- Lamps
- Kites
- Lights
- Colours
Show answer
Colours. People throw coloured powder and water.
- Holi celebrates the arrival of which season?
- Spring
- Monsoon
- Autumn
- Winter
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Spring. It falls on the full moon of the month of Phalguna.
- What is the bonfire on the night before Holi called?
- Agni Snan
- Diya Puja
- Holika Dahan
- Lohri
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Holika Dahan. It marks good triumphing over evil.
- Which devotee of Vishnu survived the fire in the Holika legend?
- Markandeya
- Hanuman
- Dhruva
- Prahlad
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Prahlad. His aunt Holika burned instead.
- Which deity's playful spirit, with Radha, is closely linked to Holi in Braj?
- Shiva
- Rama
- Krishna
- Ganesha
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Krishna. Mathura and Vrindavan hold famous celebrations.
- What is the coloured powder thrown at Holi often called?
- Gulal
- Kumkum
- Chandan
- Mehndi
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Gulal. Natural, skin-safe colours are best.
- In which town is the famous 'Lathmar Holi' celebrated?
- Barsana
- Udaipur
- Jaipur
- Amritsar
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Barsana. In it, women playfully hit men with sticks (lathis).
- Which cooling milk drink, flavoured with nuts and spices, is popular at Holi?
- Kahwa
- Lassi
- Chai
- Thandai
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Thandai. It's flavoured with nuts, fennel and spices.
- Which sweet dumpling with a khoya filling is popular at Holi?
- Ladoo
- Gujiya
- Barfi
- Jalebi
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Gujiya. It's often deep-fried.
- Holi is mainly celebrated on…
- The winter solstice
- The new moon
- The full moon (Purnima)
- A fixed date, 1 March
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The full moon (Purnima). Its date changes each year, usually falling in March.